La Grange Elementary School cafeteria manager, Linda Ford invited firefighters and police officers to eat lunch with students in remembrance of 9/11.

Honoring the first responders, there were thank-you posters and September 11 remembrance quilts hung in the cafeteria created by Leopard Spot after-school enrichment students. Several classes also went outside to see the fire truck after lunch.

Be sure to say “felicidades” to Alec Johnson on his new role as the English Language Learners program director. Alec joined the Oldham County Schools ELL program last year, bringing with him 15 years of experience in Jefferson County Public Schools.

He came to Oldham County as an ELL resource teacher, instructing students and also guiding the ELL PLC and collaborating with school and district staff. He has also served as a KTIP mentor.

Two seniors from LaGrange enrolled at the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky at WKU have been recognized as semifinalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor that potentially opens the door to college scholarship opportunities.

Purdue University awarded about 7,100 degrees to students following the spring semester. Those earning degrees include: Carsten Fletcher of Goshen, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Liberal Arts; Kevin Mockus of Crestwood, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Technology; and Kimberly Niemczyk of La Grange, who earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the School of Pharmacy.

Several local students have been named as semifinalists in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Local semifinalists include: Emily Dautenhahn and Aya Omar from Oldham County High School; Sydney Allen and Benjamin Frazier from South Oldham High School; Christopher Chen, David Glenn, Regan Lee and William Strench from North Oldham High School; and Emory Hufbauer of Louisville Classical Academy, Prospect.

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday announced last week that three Oldham County Schools made the honorable mention list regarding teaching conditions, school safety, and student achievement. Oldham County Preschool, East Oldham Middle and North Oldham High all made the list.